It's hard to imagine a garment made of thousands of matches would be anything you'd want to wear.

But Shirlette Thompson's creation at the For the Sake of Art gala and wearable art competition, benefiting the University Museum at Texas Southern University, was, well, sizzled on the runway. It captured the top prize and people's choice award at the biannual black-tie event that celebrates emerging designers and artists.

Honorary chairs were former NBA star Grant Hill and wife R&B singer Tamia, who are known for being avid art collectors and supporters."You are custodians of culture," Hill told the 600 stylish guests who filled the ballroom at the Hilton-Americas hotel.

The event is a major fund raiser for the museum, under the direction of Dr. Alvia Wardlaw, which also helps with the restoration of the university's 128 murals. The competition featured nearly a dozen artists and designers who created looks based on selected art works by artists Radcliffe Bailey and David Driskell. Each garment was judged a panel: Gayla Gardner, Selven O'Keefe Jarmon, Cesar Galindo, Valerie Cassel Oliver and Korto Momolu of "Project Runway." Houston Community College's Andrea Bonner coordinated the competition.